"Turn it over again and again, for everything is in it" - R. ben Bag Bag, Pirke Avot 5:22

For thousands of years, Jewish texts have served variously as sources of authority, inspiration, instruction and interpretation. In turn, the process of reading and re-reading these texts has played a formative role in shaping Jewish communities. This conference aims to investigate both the diverse approaches of engaging the texts and the many implications of such engagement. By opening wide the question of the complex relationship between Jewish texts and the communities that read them, we aim to foster a cross-disciplinary conversation among graduate students in and proximate to Jewish Studies (e.g., history, sociology, literature, religion, and philosophy). We also aim to foster conversation between graduate students and faculty, who will serve as respondents for the papers. The keynote speaker will be Charlotte Fonrobert Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University, whose research focuses on talmudic literature and the construction of gender in it.

Proposals for 15-20 minute presentations dealing with all periods of Jewish history and any significant Jewish texts will be accepted until November 22, 2004. An abstract of 250-500 words must be submitted, preferably as an attached Word document, to the e-mail address given below. The attachment should consist of two pages: the first with presenter name, paper title, address, telephone number, email, academic affiliation, and audio/visual needs; the second with the paper title and abstract. Completed first drafts of contributions will be expected by January 14.

Travel Grants will be available based on need to students whose papers have been accepted for presentation at the conference.

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